Pneumatic molding machine for concrete blocks



May 26, 1925. 1,539,550

H. L. EMERY PNEUMATIC MOLDING MACHINE FQR CONCRETE BLOCKS Filed July 23, 1923 PIL INVEN TOR. Hm? V67 4. EMA-fix BY I g A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 26, 1925.

caries.

HARVEY L. EIVIEBY, OF VINCENNES, INDIANA.

PNEITI/[A'IIC MOLDING IMCHINE FOR CONCRETE BLOCKS.

Application filed July 23,

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, HARVEY L. EMERY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Vincennes, county of Knox, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Pneumatic Molding Machine for Concrete Blocks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

This invention relates to a pneumatic means for pressing concrete blocks and the like, by compressed air. I

The main feature of the invention is the provision of a pneumatic core formed preferably of rubber or any suitable material which may be inserted in a collapsed state, surrounded by the cement preparation, after which it may be inflated by compressed air under high pressure for exerting an outward force and compressing the material within the form. The advantage of this arrangement is two-fold. It enables the cement block to be compressed more quickly and cheaply than heretofore, as it eliminates the necessity of providing two or more pressing plates applied to the outside of the mold, as is common practice. The mold may, therefore, be a simple structure, simply having the cover plate which may be clamped down after it is filled with the material, and eliminating the removable parts.

Furthermore, in eliminating the movable pressing plates applicable to the outside of the block, the sides of the block when formed will be absolutely true, whereas heretofore there has been considerable difficulty in forming those surfaces of the blocks which received the pressing plates in a true plane with respect to the remainder of the block. Herein, when the sides of the form are fixed and the outside surface of the block is formed thereby, there is no danger of said surfaces being out of true.

Other advantages will be apparent from the further description and claims.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan View of a form showing the collapsible core therein. Fig. 2 is an end View of the block after having been formed thereby. Fig. 3 is a section through the form with parts 1923. Serial No. 653,253.

broken away showing the core inflated. Fig. 4 is the same as .Fig. 3 showing the core deflated for removal from the form.

In the drawings there is shown a form having a base plate 10' upon which the side plates 11 are hingedly secured at 12, and to which the end plate 13 is secured by suitable bolts or clamping means 14. Said base and end plates are provided with the usual projections and recesses 15 for giving the desired configuration to the block 161 The end plates 11 are provided with a central opening toreceive the inflatable core 17, which upon completion of the block forms a central hole 18 extending therethrough.

The core 17 is formed of rubber or other suitable flexible material having reenforced or stiffened ends 19 connected and spaced apart by the rod 20 which is clamped at each end thereto by the nut 21. Extending through one end of the core there is a tube 22 containing a three-way valve 23 for controlling the air forced into said core through the air housing 24. The air housing may be connected to an air tank maintained under high air pressure by a sug'table air compressor. The three-way valve '23 is adapted to permit air to be forced into the core for inflating it, shut off the ingress or egress therefrom, and permit the deflation of the core after the block has been pressed.

The reenforced ends are of such diameter as to permit the insertion of the core through the central opening in the side walls 11, and permit its ready removal therefrom, but upon inflation the material of which the core is formed will be forced beyond the periphery of the opening of the side walls and into any crevices or recesses or any other irregularities of the block resulting from the flow of the material. This will have the effect of forcing the material into the outer corners of the block as well as against the sides.

The invention claimed is:

1. A device of the character described for forming plastic material comprising a form having stationary walls, a tubular rubber core having reenforced ends, and means for connecting said ends together and spacing them apart, whereby said core may be inserted in proper position within said form and inflated therein for exerting an outward pressure against the material contained therein.

2. A device of the character described for forming plastic material comprising a form having stationary walls, central openings for two of the oppositely disposed walls for receiving a core, a flexible tube of the length substantially equal to the distance between said openings and of substantially the same diameter as said openings, a spacing rod 1 connecting and spacing apart the ends of said tube, and means for controlling the inflation and deflation of said tube, whereby upon the inflation thereof an outward pres- 1 sure will be exerted against the material contained in said form, and upon the defla-.

fixed my slgnature.

HARVEY L. EMERY. 

